Buyout headlines

Update: An Activision rep, unsurprisingly, replied to us with a quick, no frills “Activision doesn’t comment on industry rumor and speculation.” As always, we’ll fall back on an old cliche: that’s not a “no.” Original Story: “Saw it coming.” Said the man who got blindsided by a speeding train.

Bethesda? Valve? Is there something going on between you two? Because we read this editorial by Eurogamer, and well, just look: “However, it’s also worth watching closely what happens to Steam in the coming months. Unconfirmed industry scuttlebutt suggests that Zenimax – the parent company of Bethesda, which made headlines back in June when it […]

Trackmania developer Nadia’s sold out to Ubi, it’s been confirmed today. Did you know Trackmania’s played by 700,000 people a month? Well, it is. “The acquisition of Nadeo is an important step in our expansion within the on-line gaming sector”, said super Yves Guillemot, Ubisoft’s mega-boss. “Through Nadeo, Ubisoft will gain an expert team, one […]

IGN’s bought WhatTheyPlay.com, as you can see here. “As videogames become a mainstream form of entertainment, offering insight about game content that helps parents make informed decisions about what games are appropriate will be a useful service. We are excited to welcome What They Play into the IGN fold.” said IGN’s Peer Schneider. WhatTheyPlay was […]

Microsoft’s issued a flat-out denial that it’s in the frame for an EA buy. “We have no plans to acquire EA,” a spokesperson told Marketwatch last night. “Unsubstantiated” rumors popped up regarding a sale yesterday, forcing up EA’s share price.

THQ’s shares rose 13 percent yesterday on rumour that a “major media company” is preparing a bid for the publisher. MKM Partners analyst Eric Handler started the chatter, according to this Forbes report. However, Handler said he does not see a sale as likely in the near term. “[The] company still has a very high […]

EA CFO Eric Brown has said EA is now in the market for smaller buys, speaking at the Pacific Crest Technology Leadership Forum in Vail, Colorado, this week. Talking of EA’s failed attempt to buy Take-Two this year, Brown said, “That’s a deal whose timeframe has come and long gone. We’re just not interested in […]

ZeniMax raised $105 million in convertible debt and promissory notes in order to buy, id Software, VentureBeat reports. The figure comes from an SEC filing – financials figures weren’t disclosed when the deal was announced in June. ZeniMax previously raised $300 million in private equity funding in 2007. Full thing through there.

Zenimax first started talking to id about the possibility of buying the firm about a year ago, ZeniMax CEO Robert Altman has told Joystiq. “I had my first meeting with Todd Hollenshead at E3 a year ago,” he said. “We had a general discussion about how our two companies might explore matters of mutual interest […]

Ex-id, ex-ION Storm “legend” John Romero clearly isn’t a fan of Zenimax buying id Software. On hearing the news, Romero tweeted, “ZENIMAX??????? Disgusting.” Good gravy. There was more. Big John went on to claim that “Fallout 3 bought DOOM.” Romero’s making iPhone games at the moment. Thanks, GamerVision.

“Just shut up.” [inaudible, breaking glass] “You’re late.” “Whatever.” “Are you drunk?” “Yes. I don’t like you very much. It’s easier like this.” “Get the fuck on with it.” [sounds like clattering plates, grumbling] “You know Warner’s been looking at Codemasters?” “I don’t think they’re the only ones, but yes. There were ‘whispers’ about a […]

Wedbush Morgan’s Michael Pachter doesn’t think Apple’s buying EA, as rumoured this morning. “To say that it is idiotic would be an insult to all idiots,” the analyst told VG247 today. The Street’s David Tong said in this piece that “chatter” said Apple was eyeing EA a takeover target. Maybe not, then.

A round-up on The Street’s claimed that Apple may be looking to buy EA. “Adami noted that there is chatter that Apple (AAPL Quote) is eyeing Electronic Arts(ERTS Quote) as a takeover target,” said David Tong, writing in this piece. Stranger things have happened. In fact, this really wouldn’t be very shocking at all. Thanks, […]

Take-Two shares are way up today, having enjoyed an 11.9 percent rise to $9.40 this morning. They also rose more than 5 percent last Thursday. Why? FlyOnTheWall‘s claiming there’s “renewed buyout chatter” surrounding the firm. $9.40 isn’t quite the $25.74-a-share offer EA trotted out last year, is it? Thanks, Barron’s.

Update: An Activision rep, unsurprisingly, replied to us with a quick, no frills “Activision doesn’t comment on industry rumor and speculation.” As always, we’ll fall back on an old cliche: that’s not a “no.” Original Story: “Saw it coming.” Said the man who got blindsided by a speeding train.

Bethesda? Valve? Is there something going on between you two? Because we read this editorial by Eurogamer, and well, just look: “However, it’s also worth watching closely what happens to Steam in the coming months. Unconfirmed industry scuttlebutt suggests that Zenimax – the parent company of Bethesda, which made headlines back in June when it […]

Trackmania developer Nadia’s sold out to Ubi, it’s been confirmed today. Did you know Trackmania’s played by 700,000 people a month? Well, it is. “The acquisition of Nadeo is an important step in our expansion within the on-line gaming sector”, said super Yves Guillemot, Ubisoft’s mega-boss. “Through Nadeo, Ubisoft will gain an expert team, one […]

IGN’s bought WhatTheyPlay.com, as you can see here. “As videogames become a mainstream form of entertainment, offering insight about game content that helps parents make informed decisions about what games are appropriate will be a useful service. We are excited to welcome What They Play into the IGN fold.” said IGN’s Peer Schneider. WhatTheyPlay was […]

Microsoft’s issued a flat-out denial that it’s in the frame for an EA buy. “We have no plans to acquire EA,” a spokesperson told Marketwatch last night. “Unsubstantiated” rumors popped up regarding a sale yesterday, forcing up EA’s share price.

THQ’s shares rose 13 percent yesterday on rumour that a “major media company” is preparing a bid for the publisher. MKM Partners analyst Eric Handler started the chatter, according to this Forbes report. However, Handler said he does not see a sale as likely in the near term. “[The] company still has a very high […]

EA CFO Eric Brown has said EA is now in the market for smaller buys, speaking at the Pacific Crest Technology Leadership Forum in Vail, Colorado, this week. Talking of EA’s failed attempt to buy Take-Two this year, Brown said, “That’s a deal whose timeframe has come and long gone. We’re just not interested in […]

ZeniMax raised $105 million in convertible debt and promissory notes in order to buy, id Software, VentureBeat reports. The figure comes from an SEC filing – financials figures weren’t disclosed when the deal was announced in June. ZeniMax previously raised $300 million in private equity funding in 2007. Full thing through there.

Zenimax first started talking to id about the possibility of buying the firm about a year ago, ZeniMax CEO Robert Altman has told Joystiq. “I had my first meeting with Todd Hollenshead at E3 a year ago,” he said. “We had a general discussion about how our two companies might explore matters of mutual interest […]

Ex-id, ex-ION Storm “legend” John Romero clearly isn’t a fan of Zenimax buying id Software. On hearing the news, Romero tweeted, “ZENIMAX??????? Disgusting.” Good gravy. There was more. Big John went on to claim that “Fallout 3 bought DOOM.” Romero’s making iPhone games at the moment. Thanks, GamerVision.

“Just shut up.” [inaudible, breaking glass] “You’re late.” “Whatever.” “Are you drunk?” “Yes. I don’t like you very much. It’s easier like this.” “Get the fuck on with it.” [sounds like clattering plates, grumbling] “You know Warner’s been looking at Codemasters?” “I don’t think they’re the only ones, but yes. There were ‘whispers’ about a […]

Wedbush Morgan’s Michael Pachter doesn’t think Apple’s buying EA, as rumoured this morning. “To say that it is idiotic would be an insult to all idiots,” the analyst told VG247 today. The Street’s David Tong said in this piece that “chatter” said Apple was eyeing EA a takeover target. Maybe not, then.

A round-up on The Street’s claimed that Apple may be looking to buy EA. “Adami noted that there is chatter that Apple (AAPL Quote) is eyeing Electronic Arts(ERTS Quote) as a takeover target,” said David Tong, writing in this piece. Stranger things have happened. In fact, this really wouldn’t be very shocking at all. Thanks, […]

Take-Two shares are way up today, having enjoyed an 11.9 percent rise to $9.40 this morning. They also rose more than 5 percent last Thursday. Why? FlyOnTheWall‘s claiming there’s “renewed buyout chatter” surrounding the firm. $9.40 isn’t quite the $25.74-a-share offer EA trotted out last year, is it? Thanks, Barron’s.

Take-Two has settled a shareholder lawsuit over turning down EA’s offer to buy a controlling stake in the company. Filed by Prickett, Jones & Elliott for shareholder Patrick Solomon during March of last year, Solomon sued over Take-Two refusing to accept the $26 per share offer. No money changed hands, only an agreement granting Soloman […]

Namco Bandai owns 95 percent of D3Publisher as of this morning. The company purchased 19,990 shares today, costing 62,000 yen ($628) and putting a value on the buyout at 1,239,380,000 yen ($12.55 million). It’s not known at this time how the merge will affect D3 Publisher America or Europe. Namco made a bid for the company […]

MCV’s reporting that Square and Eidos have agreed buyout terms. Finalization on the deal is expected by May. Square was unavailable for comment at the time of writing. Following this, trading of Eidos shares will be suspended on April 21st and the cancelling of its share listings is due to occur the following day. A […]

Warner Bros has lent its support to a Square Enix bid for Eidos, saying it’ll add its 20 percent holding in the firm to a take-over. Over 36 percent of outstanding shares have now been placed on Square’s side of the fence. Eidos shares were trading at 32.25 pence when trading opened on Monday. More […]

News of a Square Enix bid for Eidos has resulted in a major share boost for the Hitman-maker. Eidos’s stock leapt over 117 percent today, with over 5 million shares being traded in the UK market’s first hour alone. The price is currently at 30.5 pence ($.42). Square Enix is expected to reveal more details […]

Namco has reached agreements to acquire 70 percent of D3′s shares, according to this Andriasang report. The news apparently comes from a press release. Namco hopes to acquire the full 100 percent of shares, at a price of 62,000 yen. D3 will be turned into a wholly-owned Namco subsidiary. Other detail from the press release […]

Square Enix has made official an £84.3 million bid for Eidos. The Eidos board has agreed to recommend the offer to shareholders, which is worth 32 pence per share. The price represents a premium of 258 per cent over the price at the time the offer was made, January 14, and a premium of 91 […]

Former Haze creative lead Derek Littlewood has told VG247 this morning that a now-confirmed sale of Free Radical to Crytek has brought “relief” to the UK firm. “It’s clearly a really, really good thing,” he said. “More than anything else I think everyone is relieved that we can now get back to concentrating on making […]

US site Shacknews has been bought by GameFly, as confirmed here. Fileshack’s gone with it. The outlet was formed in 1995. No financials terms were disclosed. “GameFly has demonstrated a true understanding of and commitment to Shacknews’ gaming culture,” said Shacknews founder Steve Gibson. “We are confident GameFly will protect the legacy and community we’ve […]

According to this Reuters report, Time Warner’s extended its share in Eidos to 20 percent. The firm bought 10 million shares in the UK publisher to increase its stake. Time Warner bought the shares on December 11 and now holds about 52.5 million shares in the company.